The ANDY LOCHHEAD column. . .

IT DIDN'T take long for Steve Cotterill to see the problems that could lie in store with such a small squad.

The absence of Ian Moore and Robbie Blake for the penultimate pre-season friendly earlier this week left the manager bereft of any mainline strikers!

Thank heavens we're still to reach the starting point of a season that could swing either way.

However, it's good news - and no doubt a relief for Cotterill - that both Blake and Moore are only suffering niggles.

We all know what Robbie can deliver the goods, but there's no doubt that this Burnley side also misses Moore when he's not playing.

I'd still like to see Ian getting into more goalscoring positions, but he more than makes up for that by running his socks off for the good of the team.

Putting defences under pressure is the first rule of defending from the front and few players in this league do that better than Ian.

I've often thought because of that he would be very good operating in the hole behind a front two, where he could pressurise teams into mistakes in dangerous areas and also use his blistering pace.

Steve will, no doubt, have his own ideas on that. But with a team so short on numbers, versatility is the key and Ian might just have the key to another door in his locker.

In the meantime, it's been interesting reading about the lads' exploits in Austria.

White water rafting and cable car rides into the mountains sound a little energetic to me - but it's the alcohol ban that would have done for me!

Back in the 1960s we toured Germany and we worked hard, played hard in the games, then always enjoyed a few beers afterwards.

However, I can totally understand Steve's policy. Today's professional players are far fitter than in my day and, as they say, the body is a temple.

We also live in an age where even the most minor indiscretions have a habit of finding their way into the newspapers.

Far better to lay down the law, treat your players as human beings and trust them until they betray that trust.

Anyhow, with all these adventures the lads are getting up to on top of the dreaded pre-season training, I doubt they need a pint or two to help them sleep.

The big surprise is that Steve still manages to get them out of bed at 7am the next morning to start all over again!